Self-contained thrust beaking



27, 1941; w. 5 HoRRocKs Rex-21,810

SELF-CONTAINED THRUST BEARING Original Filed .Aug. 5. i936 l2a. 2 280;.//R. /0a

INVENTOR Wa Her Horroc ks ATTURNE Y Reissued May 27, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE I SEIE-GONTAINSELBUST BEARING Walter E. Horrocks,Lakewood, Ohio Original No, 5168342, dated August 8, 1939, Serial No.94,014, August 3, 1938. Application for reissue July 20, 1940. SerialNo. 346,663

Claims. (cl. 308-232) My invention relates to self-contained thrustbearings of the anti-friction type, such as ball bearings, cylindricalroller bearings and taper roller bearings and has for its principalobject to provide improved means for combining elements, metals, alloysand lubricants into a complete working unit for bearings of this nature.It has been illustrated in connection-with bearings of the type that areextensively used as au-" tomobile clutch throw-out bearings but itis notlimited for use in this location.

I Bearings of this nature have proved unsa factory due to various causessuch as eccentric I throw of retainer rings inwhich the balls areassembled. the eccentric throw being caused when the bearing is runningfree with the race rings slightly separated to remove the load.

Another cause of bearing failure to withstand constant heavy dutyservice in which they are used, such as clutch release bearings as areused in trucks, is caused by bearing structures such as those in whichthe. function of the bearing and its coacting parts depend upon theshaft or hub to which the bearing is applied for maintaining the axialalinement of the races and co-acting partsin which the bore of the fixedrace ring allows a very small limited contact on the shaft for thesupporting of the bearing axially, which results in allowingconsiderable drag, and excessiveunlubricated frictional contact betweenthe shaft and the hub of flanged retainers that are in constantfrictional contact with the shaft and both race rings when the bearingis being placed under a working load.

One of the objects of my invention relates to an improvement inself-contained thrust bearings having for its object improved means forthe maintaining of axial alinement of the opposing races combined withan enclosed bearing separator for maintaining concentric alinement ofthe balls, or rollers, positioned between the I opposing race members.

Another object is to provide a self-contained thrust bearing which canbe installed over a shaft without the separator or retainen'or componentparts being subjected to damage during installation, or becominginoperative due to imperfect fltting of the tight race ring upon theshaft. or irregularities in the shafting.

Another object is to provide a self-contained thrust bearing in whichthe races and component parts that revolve around the shaft to which thebearing is applied,"are not in contact with the shaft. therebyeliminating any wear or friction betwecnthe'shaft and the-thrust bearingparts.

self-contained thrust bearing, having the loregoing advantages andmerits, whereby the roll-.

ing elements are allowed to shift independently between the race ringsso as to eliminate the occurrence of any snap action resulting from themassof rollers simultaneously contacting both opposing race rings.

My invention is especially designed for, but not necessarily confinedto, thrust bearings inwhich the thrust bearing .faces of the opposingraces are permitted to separate slightly when the bearing is runningfree and is not under a load, as

is extensively used in connection with automo-- bile clutches.

This'invention is also designed to allow of making a self-containedthrust bearing using 'race members having straight or flat'opposingsurfaces for the positioning of ball bearings having a point contactwith the race members, cylinder roller bearings having a line bearingcontact withthe race members, ball andcylinder roller bearings beinginterchangeable between the same opposing race rings, grooved racemern-- bers for positioning of ball bearings between the grooves of theopposing races; and race members having conical opposing surfaces forthe positioning of taper roller bearings having a line bearingcontactwith the race members.

In order to accomplish these specified results I may use a separator asgranted to me-i'n Patent No. 1,941,209 issued December 26, 1933, whichallows for a separator comprising a ring with spokes, or projectionsextending between the rollers, with the sides of the spokes, orprojections adjacent to the rollers, being flat to allow for .free axialmovement between the opposing This separator preferably, but notnecessarily, to be made from powdered metal alloys.

. The axial alinementof the race rings is main--.

- tained by the iiseof a sleeve which is fixed to the tight race ringand the concentric alincm'ent'of the rolling elements is maintained byusing a.v separator comprising a ring wi h projections extending inward,with the ends or the projections ment.

journaled on the sleeve of one race ring, or a separator being journaledon the sleeve of one race ring with projections extending outwardly andwith the aforesaid projections or spokes having open ends and providedwith straight tangential contacting means across the rolling elements.

By using the described separators and the free moving race ringjournaled on the sleeve of one race ring as shown in the drawing and asspecified, it will be apparent that the com-' binations which aredescribed will allow for the manufacture of a self-contained thrusthearing, which is suitable for either ball or roller bearings, and willinsure axial alinement of the races and concentric alinement of therolling elements that are positioned between the opposing race members.

with the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the inventionis shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a view in section taken through the center line of thebearing.

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in sectionapproximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing a self-containedbearing of the thrust type constructed as described in the inventionadapted for the use of either ball or cylindrical rolling elements.

Fig. 3 is a partial view in section showing the invention as applied totaper roller bearings.

Fig. 4" is a fragmentary view in, section as is shown onthe line 44 ofFig. 3 showing the separator projections iournaled to the sleeve,

Fig. 5 is a view in section on line 55 of Fig. 4

The free acting race ring ill is iournaled on to the sleeve II, or thejournal bearing band 2|, as the case may be, which maintains the axialalinement of the race rings Ill and I I either when they are allowed toseparate, as when the bearing is not under a load, or as when thebearing is operating under a load with the races l0 and II and therolling elements l4, l5, it or being in contact with eachother.

The entire bearing is held together with a casing or jacket 28 which issecured to the free moving race It by spinning the edge 24 of the jacketor casing over the outer end of the race Ill, the race ill beingshouldered on to a bead 25 which is rolled into the casing or Jacket.The casing or jacket 23 has a flange 25a extending axially to embracethe race II with a small amount of clearance allowed between the innerside of the flange 25a and the race II.

The interior void space of the. bearing is filled with a suitable gradeof lubricant" adapted for the lubrication of the rolling elements H, l5,It or I! and the contacting component parts of the bearing.

which shows a cross section of the separator Journaled to the sleeve asused with taper roller a load, and as when the bearing is running freeand is not operating under a load.

Referring to the drawing. at Figs. 1 and 2.,is shown a thrust bearingcontaining ball and rollor bearings, comprising axially spaced racemembers l0 and II and a separatingflng llwhichis journaled on a sleevell offthe fixed race. ring ll. Rolling load m'embers- H, I, "or H arepositioned between the projecting portions n of the separating ring I!which maintains the rolling elements, I5, I! or II in concentric-aime-The sleeve IS on which the separator is journaled is hired to'the racering ll by press flttingthe reduced and ll 0 the'sleeve II into the boreH of the race ring I with the shoulder I8 ofthe sleeve l3 seated to the20 oftheraceringll.

, The sleeve I: on which the separator I2 is journaled, may have anextra journal bearing band II which is to be madefrom' elements otherthan those'contained in the sleeve II. The object oi.

this feature is to obtain additional advantages.

by different combinations of the elements 02'' alloys that come infrictional contact with-each other. The journal bearing band 2.! is

sleeve II as shown.

When the bearing is to be installed over-a shaft or hub, pressure isapplied to the end 26 of the sleeve it which eliminates any possibilityof damaging any of the component working parts of the bearing.

The sleeve 13 being substantially secured within the bore ll. of theflxed race H and extending into the bore III of the free moving race Illisolates, or separates, all co-acting movable parts of the bearing fromany contact with the shaft or hub, to which the bearing may be applied.This feature results in reducing the mun..- ber, of frictional radialcontacts and running fits of the component parts of the bearing toaminimum.

Installation of the bearing with the sleeve I! pressed over a shaft orhub that, is slightly out of round, or of irregular dimensions, will notnegative the from maintaining axial alinement of the races, andconcentric alinement of the load bearing rolling elements.

Figs. 3, ,4, and 5 illustrate the invention applied to taper rollerbearings 11 in which the separating ring Ha has the side faces 28 and28a tapered to conform with the faces of the opposing races Ila and Ila.The casing 23 isshown secured to the race ring Ina by shell reaming theend of the casing to form; a shoulder 23a for the seating of the raceIlla with the edge of the casing spunover the char'nfered corner of therace. as shown.

182-6 illustrates the invention applied to ball bearings I'[ which trackin grooves 29.-and SI of opposing races lllb and D in which the dottedconcave line 30 shows the location of the inner face, of the free movingrace lob as the bearing is running free without any loadwhich the raceslnb and I lb to separate slightly. The circuiardotted line II indicatesthe-posh.

tionof the ballsJl in relation to the grooves 29 and It as-when thebearing is not under aload, but .is revolving at high speed resultingin" the centrifugal action maintaining concentric alinement of-the ballbearings II by contact with the-outer periphery 32 and 32a ofth'egrooves- 19 and Ilrespectively.

when. the bearing is under a load"and thethrustrace lnbisthrust towardthe opposing race m; the balls will assume the position in the grooves28 and III as indicated, being in concentric alinement' by the outerperiphery flgand 82a of the grooves I! and 39, the

llb with the corner 33 of the separator lib adjacent to the journalbearing band 2! chamfered to avoid any frictional contact. with the saidjournal bearing band 2|. v

Fig. 7 illustrates the separator I221 iou naled to the sleeve lib with aball bearing I1 poi-cloned between the outwardly projecting portions:18a in contact with the separator l2b at the point 34 as when thebearing is in operation under a load. When the bearing is running freeand is not under a load the balls I! assume the posl tion between theprojections Ilia as shown at IS, The variable concentric alinement ofthe ball bearings H as caused when the bearing is running free and notunder a load, and as when the bearing is runnlngunder a load, isaccomplished by the straight sides 36 of the separator pro- I ratingring lib which is ioumaled on the sleeve jections Illa which allows theballs I! to shift from one concentric alinement into another concentricalinement maintaining the equal spacing of theballs ll within thebearing.

If the fixed races ll, Ila, Nb and the sleev l3, l3a, and Nib are to bemade of the same elements, the two pieces can be combinedin one piece ina forging, stamping, or casting, thereby eliminating the coining betweenthe race and the sleeve at the shoulder is.

From the foregoing description the operation of the invention will beapparent. as the sleeve which is attached to one race ring allows offree axial reciprocative-movement of the opposing race ring, and theseparators that are journaled thereto. The casing that is attached tothe free moving race ring for holding the selected lubricants within thebearing. makes a bearing that is a self-contained unit with all of thecom ponent parts of the bearing functioning within itself for themaintaining of axial and concentric alinement of theco-acting-functioning elements.

This will allow in manufacturing of bearings of this type, to have allof the movable parts assembled into a complete unit under thesupervision of the bearing manufacturer, thereby eliminating thedependency of multiple running fits to outside sources for thefunctioning of the bearing.

This improvement provides a self-contained thrust bearing having aretaining element for spacing the rollers that is maintained inconcentric "alinement at all times and which allows of the rollingelements to freely shift between the races so that they may rollindependentlyinto their working positions between the race ringswhen aworking thrust load is applied to the bearing. This results ineliminating any mass tion between the race rings when placed under a;worlnng load.

It will be understood that slight modifications can be made of thisinvention without departing .from the spirit of the scope of theinvention.

v Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a self-containedthrust bearing comprising a pair of complementarygrooved opposing racerings, one of the race rings having a sleeveattached thereto, the opposingjace ring carry ing a confining casing andjournaled on the said sleeve for free rotatable and reciprocatory axialv movement thereon, and balls with rolling fluctuating radial movementshifting individually between the said rlngs. and a relatively thickopen spolr'ed ring separator for the balls diametrically Journaled andaxially movable on the said sleeve between the said rings, and providedwith a contour formed about the rolling surfaces of the balls andprojecting substantially therebetween, and the said contour havingstraight tangential contacting means lying across the surfaces of thesnap action of the rolling elements against the working surfaces of theopposing race rings when a sudden impact or thrust load is applied tothe bearing. The elimination of the mass snap action of the rollingelements against the working surfaces of the race rings results intending to obviate the Brinelling of the working surfaces of theopposing race rings, and the premature Brlnelling of the race rings iseliminated by applying pressure to the sleeve of the bearing insteadof'applying pressure to the race rings when balls in all theirfluctuating positions between the said rings thereby maintaining equallyspaced changeable concentric alinement of the rolling balls between thesaid rings. a

2. In a self-contained thrust bearing comprising a'pair of complementarygrooved opposing race rings, one of the race rings having a sleeveattached thereto, the opposing race ring carrying a confining casing andjournalcd on the said sleeve for free rotatable and reciprocatory axialmovement thereon, and-balls with rolling fluctuating radial movementshifting individually between the said rings. and a relatively thickopen spoked ring separator for the balls diametrically journaled andaxially movable on the said sleeve between the said rings, and providedwith a contour formed about the rolling surfaces of the balls andprojecting substantially therebetween;

and the said contour having straight tangential contacting meanslyingacross the surfaces of the balls in all their fluctuating positionsbetween the said rings, thereby maintaining equaling a confining casingand journaled on the said sleeve for free rotatable and reciprocatoryaxial movement thereon, and balls with rolling fluctuating radialmovement shifting individually between the said rings, and a relativelythick open spoked ring separator for the balls diametrically journaledand axially movable on the said sleeve between the said rings, andprovided with a contour formed about the rolling surfaces of the ballsand projecting substantially therebetween, and the said contour havingstraight tangential contacting means lying across the surfaces of theballs in all their fluctuating positions between the said rings, therebymaintaining equally spaced rolling formation of the balls to roll fromone concentric alinement into other concentric. alinements between thesaid rings;

4. In a unitary self-contained thrust bearing comprising a pair ofcomplementary conical faced opposing race rings with one of the racerings having a. sleeve attached thereto and the opposing raceringcarrying a confining casing and tapered' rolling elements betweenthe said rings,

and a relatively thick open spoked ring separator for the rollingelements, diametrically Journaled and axially movable on the said sleevebetween the said rings, and the separator provided with portionsextending radially between the tapered rolling elements. and the saidportions provided with straight tangential contacting means lying acrossthe rolling surfaces of the said rolling elements in all their shiftableposi-- tions between the said rings, whereby equally spaced changeableconcentric alinement of the said rolling elements is maintained betweenthe said rings.

5. In a unitary self-contained thrust bearing comprising a pair ,0!complementary opposing race rings with one of the race rings having .asleeve attached thereto and the opposing racering carrying a confiningcasing and journaled -on the said sleeve for free rotatable andrecomprising a pair of complementary opposing race rings, one of therace rings having a sleeve attached thereto,'the opposing'race ringcarry-- ing a confining casing and journaled on the said sleeveforfree-rotatable and reciprocatory axial movement thereon, rollingelements between the said rings, and a relatively thick open spoked ringseparator for the rolling elements,

diametrically journaled and axially movable on the said sleeve betweenthe said rings. and the separator provided with portions extendingradirolling elements is maintained between the said rings.

7. In a unitary thrust bearing, the combination of a fixed race ring anda loose race ring having a confining casing attached thereto. said ringsbeing co-axially spaced on a sleeve, rolling ele ments between the ringsand means providing a relatively thick separator diametrically journaledand axially movable on the 'sleeve between the rings comprising a ringhaving open rollerspacing projections extending radially between therolling elements and provided with straight tangential contacting meanslying across the rolling surfaces of the rolling elements whereby therolling elements have individualized changeable concentric alinementsbetween the rings when the said rings move toward each other.

8. A self-contained thrust bearing comprising a. sleeve, a pairof racerings one of which is fixed and the other of which carries a confiningcasing and is axially movable on the sleeve, ro'lling elements betweenthe races, and an open spoked ring separator for the rolling elements,rotatable and axially movable onthe sleeve between the races, andstraight tangential contacting means on the separator to allow of therolling elements independently shifting their axial concentric alinementbetween the rings.

9. A self-contained thrust bearing comprising a sleeve, a pair of racerings one of which-is fixed and the other of which carries a confiningcasing and is axially movable on the sleeve, rollchanging theirconcentric alinement between ally between the rolling elements, and thesaid portions provided with straight tangential conthe rings.

10., In a unitary self-contained thrust bearing, the combination or afixed race ring and a loose race ringhaving a confining casing attachedthereto, rolling elements between the rings, and an open spoked ringseparator 1'or the rolling elements and means providing a sleeve forjournaling said separator and co-axially spacing said race rings thereonsubstantiallyas described.

WALTER E. HORROCKS.

